The conclusions follow research which was carried out by environment consultants Business Eco Network (BEN), in partnership with Windsor and Maidenhead council and MEL Research. The study was funded through the Landfill Tax Credits Scheme by S. Grundon (Waste) Ltd.
The research analysed the components of domestic waste and looked at the composition of waste from different socio-demographic areas. The study aimed to provide the council with data to enable it to develop a realistic waste management plan. The project also assessed the impact of seasonal variations in kerbside collected household waste which will enable the council to assess the merits of seasonally focused campaigns.
The work consisted of two analyses of household waste in March and July 2001. There was calorimetric testing of the summer waste sample and also an investigation into the waste brought by the public to the civic amenity site.
Currently, black boxes for recycling paper, card, cans and plastics are provided to 80% of households and there are also 41 bring centres in the borough and one civic amenity site. The current recycling rate is 23%.
The waste analysis found that a significant amount of recyclables are being sent to landfill and that the black box scheme needs to be built upon if participation rates are to be increased. The research found that residents need to be encouraged to minimise the generation of wastes and to recycle and that there needs to be a new home-composting campaign in light of the large component of garden and kitchen waste that was found in the waste stream.
The project found that on average, each household in the borough generates 14kg of waste per week and that the average volume increased by nearly 14% between March and July 2001. The project also found that garden waste increased from 6% to 29% between March and July 2001.
Putrescible waste was the largest component at 41% of total waste, paper and card accounted for 23%, newspapers and magazines 7%, plastic film and dense plastics 11%, glass 7%, textiles 4.5%. Approximately 22% of waste (3kg per household per week) was calculated to be packaging waste. The greatest weight of waste taken to the civic amenity site was compostable putrescible waste, almost entirely garden waste.
The study recommended that to reduce the generation of waste and increase the amount of recyclables being diverted from landfill. The council should:
- Improve residents’ awareness of waste minimisation, re-use and recycling initiatives, and associated issues such as the cost to tax payers and the environmental impacts of waste
- Increase the size of containers for recyclables at doorstep
- Encourage smarter shopping, and ensure advice and assistance is given on ‘greener purchasing’
- Monitor attitudes to waste, and the progress of waste initiatives, such as paper recycling and composting
- Consider financial incentives for residents who recycle and/or reduce waste
The study suggested that local authorities considering similar projects should look at the waste analysis results for similar authorities, integrate waste minimisation with other corporate issues, such as housing, education and purchasing and provide sufficient time to imple
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